This is the start of the Chinese New Year. This ritual is centuries old; in fact, too old to actually be traced back to its origins. It began last Saturday with the New Moon, the official start of the festive season. Seven days later, under the quarter Moon is Yan Yat, or 'Everybody's Birthday'. What an appropriate Aquarian theme, with the Moon in Taurus! Everybody (Aquarius) has a party (Taurus). Although we're superimposing western images on an eastern tradition, the influences can still be read in this way. The Laughing Buddha According to legend, Yan Yat began when the Buddha invited all creatures in his kingdom to appear before him. The twelve animals that completed the journey successfully were each honored with a full year in their name. Finally, the Chinese Lantern Festival comes fifteen days after the New Moon/New Year, and occurs under the Full Moon in Leo. In ancient times, people would go in search of spirits, burning sticks on this night, as they thought other worldly creatures could be more easily seen during the Full Moon. During the T'ang dynasty (618-906 AD), families would set aside one night during this holiday to honor the Moon. They would sit outside and gaze up, in awe and delight. Today under the bright nocturnal lamp, people wear white as a reflection of, and to honor, lunar light. Lanterns are hung in malls and markets, while children carry paper lanterns to school, to light their way to a bright and happy future. Last week we looked at Sumerian culture, which also started the month with the New Moon. The Chinese still do the same with their New Year. This is an old tradition. The roots of these customs can be traced around the world. With lunar calendars, it's easy to forecast the public mood. Under the New Moon, Sun and Moon are in Aquarius. One week later, the Sun is still in Aquarius, while the Moon falls in Taurus. Two weeks later, the Aquarian Sun is complemented by a Full Moon in Leo. This pattern repeats each year, with few exceptions. A Chinese Dragon    Those born under the Year of the Dragon are natural leaders. According to Chinese astrologers, this is the sign most admired by others. These people are said to be feisty and blessed with power and luck. Gifted, intelligent, and loaded with will power, Dragons generally succeed in any enterprise, no matter what career path is chosen. Usually, they will get what they want; but this may be part of the problem. Idealists and perfectionists, they can also be inflexible and unwilling to compromise. Their aggression and determination can make them irritable and stubborn, forcing their way through situations before really thinking things through. They are easily impressed by material factors such as money, wealth, prestige, and rank, but can also be very generous to those they care for or wish to impress. The personality of the Dragon and their personal fire can make them dynamic and delightful to be around, as long as you don't get burned.    Normally, the Year of the Dragon indicates great good luck, and many Chinese traditions are designed to encourage and promote these blessings; by waving red banners and setting off fireworks to scare away unwelcome forces. But with the Solar Eclipse occurring on the New Moon as the year began, the omens would seem to be inauspicious indeed. The Dragon has swallowed the light.

The Nature of the Dragon    "The dragon's nature is rough and fierce, yet he likes beautiful gems and the Stone of Darkness, and is fond of roasted swallows. He is afraid of iron, of the wang plant, of centipedes, of the leaves of the lien tree, and of five- colored silk thread. Therefor those who have eaten swallows avoid crossing the water, and those who pray for rain use swallows; those who suppress water-calamity use iron, those who stir up the dragons to make rain use the wang plant, and those who offer to K'uh Yuen use leaves of the lien treee and coloured silk thread, rapping dumplings in them which they throw into the river. Also, when physicians use dragon's bones, they must know these particulars about the dragon's likings and hatreds."    -Li Shi-chen Dragon painting by Kano Mitsunobu on ceiling compartment, Shokoku-ji, Kyoto, 16th century Myths, Legends, and Fables    The power and personality of the Dragon are contained in the stories told about this mythical creature. In one tale, Liu Yi, a sad wife, has her uncle, (a dragon) come to her rescue, by devouring her husband (who has been neglectful), but in the process flooding 800 miles and killing 600,000 people. Dragons are often depicted as hot-tempered and vengeful, but a also very intelligent. They often devote themselves to the study of wisdom as reclusive loners, a motif that is found in China, India, and the West.    In the story of Zhou Chu and the Three Beasts, Zhou Chu is the town bully, who is challenged by the wise man of the village to do battle with three powerful opponents. He goes off to kill the Tiger of the Southern Mountains, and then must face and kill the Water Dragon. After successfully overcoming these two foes, he comes back, pround and determined to face the third beast. The is told by the old wise man that the third opponent is himself, whom the entire town would like to see destroyed. Zhou Chu finally comes to the revelation of how the people preceive him, and becomes the most benign character in the town.

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